Signal



Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oer-ice 1 Claim.

This invention relates to signals, more particularly to signals formarking the position and condition of a high tension transmission line.

A high tension transmission line leading from one city to anotherconstitutes a path marker or guidcway for aviators during the day time,since its towers are visible from great distances and suitable markingsmake the destination of the line known to the aviator. However, at nightand on days when the visibility is poor, the high tension transmissionline becomes a hazard to the aviator, rather than a help. The towers ofsuch a transmission line frequently extend to considerable height andare liable to be struck by an aeroplane fiying low at times of lowvisibility.

In my present invention, I provide a signal for marking the position ofthe transmission line, that signal serving to assist the aviator inlocating the transmission line during the night and during foggyweather, when the visibility is very poor.

For this purpose, I provide a luminous signal, which is fastened to thetransmission tower, or to the conductors of the transmission line. Thesignal is lighted by the potential on the transmission line, and servesto indicate the position of the line. Moreover, a signal of thiskindconstitutes a safety device, in that it will be lighted at all times, ifthe transmission line is under tension, so that workmen working on thetower supporting the line, or on the line itself, will know definitelythat potential is on the line.

In order to keep the cost of operation of a signalling system of thiskind down within a reasonable figure, the signals employed should bevery low current consumers, and in addition, should be capable of havingthe relatively high voltage of the transmission line impressed uponthem.

I have found that a glass tube filled with neon gas is particularly welladapted for this kind of signalling work. The neon lamp is capable ofwithstanding high voltage and, in addition, consumes a negligible amountof current. Moreover, as is well understood by those engaged inaviation, the rays from a neon lamp have particular penetrating power,which enables the lamp to be seen at relatively great distances througha thick fog. While I prefer to uses. neon lamp, I realize that, in someinstances, a low current filament type lamp may be preferable over theneon lamp and I am not, therefore, to be restricted to the use of anyparticularly form of lamp.

In the drawing, I have shown by simple diagrams two adaptations of theinvention to acquaint those skilled in the art with the principles ofit.

Figure 1 shows the details of construction of a condenser type lamp; and

Figure 2 shows an application of the condenser 6 type lamp to atransmission line and also a. two electrode, type lamp connected aroundan insulator.

The lamp shown in Figure 1 comprises a glass tube Iii, which is closedat its upper end and 10 has its lower end sealed into the base I3. Thistube is preferably about one inch in diameter and approximately one footlong, although larger or smaller tubes may be used as required. The baseI3 is a metallic unitary structure shaped to 16 fit over thetransmission line conductor l, and provided with the counterweight i 4,which hangs below the conductor l to maintain the lamp in an uprightposition on the conductor.

Sealed within the lamp tube i5 is a tinfoil 20 plate H, which isdisposed at the upper end of the tube and attached to the inside wall01' the tube. An electrode i2 is disposed at the bottom of the tube andelectrically connected to the 'metallic base !3. The space in the tubeis first 26 exhausted and then filled with a suitable gas, such as neonor any other gas, which glows under the influence of a very smallelectric current flowing through it.

The type of lamp shown in Figure 1 is termed 3 a condenser type lamp,since the current used to-illuminate the gas in the lamp is that currentflowing .from the conductor l through the electrode l2 and the gas tothe condenser plate ll. This plate H is not electrically connected toany 35 other conductor.

In Figure 2, I show another modification in which the signal tube, shownin detail in Figure .1, is employed. This tube i5 is of the condensertype and is supported on the potential carrying conductor l in themanner shown in Figure 1 and hereinbefore explained. This tube has onlyone terminal, and is lighted by condenser charging current flowing fromthe conductor l to the plate ll, sealed within the tube. When the tubei5 is supported upon the conductor 5 in the manner shown in Figure 2, itwill be necessary to place some kind of a stop or guide upon theconductor to prevent the tube from sliding along it to the 50 lowestpoint. A clamp, such as a U-clamp, around the conductor, will serve thispurpose. Preferably, also, the lamp it will be connected to theconductor by a safety chain or similar holding means so that, in case ofstorm and high wind,

the tube will not fall to the ground even though it-be dislodged fromthe conductor. In Figure 2, I also show a signal lamp connected acrossthe insulator 42 by mounting brackets 4B and 4|.

The potential drop across the insulator 42 is employed to energize thelamp 5. The lamp is a two electrode type lamp. The insulator 42 ispreferably an extra insulator inserted in the string 2 and may be of thesame type as the others in the string or may be a special insulatordesigned to have a potential drop which corresponds to the properpotential for the lamp 5. The brackets 40 and 4| are metallic bracketsclamped onto the insulator 42 by brackets tailored to fit the insulator,and-attached to the end eyelets of the lamp 5 by bolts and nuts. Theends of the brackets 40 and 4| preferably project through these eyeletsand are threaded to receive lock nuts which hold the lamp securely onthe bracket.

The foregoing illustrations show some of the adaptations of a signallamp to a transmission tower, these adaptations being shown by way ofexample only as I do not wish to be limited by the specific disclosureshown. I am aware that there are many other modifications andadaptations of the signal which can be made by one skilled in the art tofit into particularrequirements without departing from the teachings ofthe invention. I

Furthermore, although I have described a gasfilled electrotype tube as asignal, I have done so by way of example, as a suitable filament typesignal might also be used in any of the adaptations illustrated.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described apreferred embodiment of my invention, what I consider new and desire to5 have protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a high tension outdoor electric system includingsupporting towers and a high tension conductor supported therefrom byhigh voltage insulators, of a visible discharge device of the classdescribed comprising an elongated glass tube of small diameter filledwith an inert gas and having a closed upper end, an electrode within theclosed end of said tube free of mechanical or electrical connection toany part of said system, a socket for the open end of said tube sealingthe same and having a second electrode projecting into said tube andspaced from said first electrode, said socket having an integral portionengaging about a major portion of the lateral periphery of saidconductor and having a depending counterweight portion disposed belowsaid conductor diametrically opposite said tube and of sufiicient weightto position said socket in vertically extending position to support saidtube in upright position above said conductor, said hook portion andsocket providing direct electrical connection between said conductor andsaid second electrode.

GEORGE WILEY BERGMAN.

